निपातिता यक्षवरेण ते वने महाहवे वज्रभृतेव दानवाः । मया च गत्वा वरदो हि तोषितो विवक्षता प्रश्नसमुच्चयं गुरुः ।। 4
In the forest, in a great battle, they were struck down by the Yakṣa, as Dānavas are by the wielder of the thunderbolt; and I, having gone, pleased the boon-giver, who wished to answer my questions as my teacher.
स मे प्रसन्नो भगवान्वरं ददौ परिष्वजंश्चाह तथैव सौहृदात्। वृणीष्व यद्वाञ्छसि पाण्डुनन्दन स्थितोऽन्तरिक्षे वरदोऽस्मि पश्य माम् ।। 5
That blessed one, pleased with me, granted a boon and, embracing me out of friendship, said: 'Ask whatever you desire, O son of Pāṇḍu; I stand in the sky as a boon-giver—behold me.'
स वै मयोक्तो वरदः पिता प्रभुः सदैव मे धर्मरता मतिर्भवेत्। इमे च जीवन्तु ममानुजाः प्रभो वयं स्वरूपं च जयं तथाऽऽप्नुमः ।। 6
I then said to the boon-giving father and lord: 'May my mind always delight in righteousness; may these my younger brothers live, and may we attain our true form and victory.'
क्षमा च कीर्तिश्च यथेप्सितं भवेद्व्रतं तु सत्यं च समाप्तिरेव च। वरो ममैषोस्तु यथाऽनुकीर्तितो न तन्मृषा देववृषो यथाऽब्रवीत् ।। 7
May I have patience and fame as I desire, and may my vow and truthfulness reach fulfillment—let this boon be mine as I have recounted, and let it not be false, as the lord of gods has spoken.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन्। तदैव तत्प्रसादेन रूपमेवाभवत्स्वयम् ।। 8
Thus having spoken, the righteous one, reflecting only on righteousness, by that very favor at once took on that very form himself.
स वै द्विजातिस्तरुणस्त्रिदण्डभृत्कमण्डलूष्णीषधरो व्यजायत। सुरक्तमाञ्जिष्ठवराम्बरः शिखी पवित्रपाणिर्ददृशे तदाऽद्भुतम् ।। 9
That twice-born youth appeared, bearing a triple staff, water-pot, and turban, clad in deep-red garments, with a topknot, holding purification grass in his hand—at that moment, a wondrous sight.
तथैव तेषामपि धर्मचारिणां यथोचितार्हाभरणाम्बरस्रजः। क्षणेन राजन्नभवन्महात्मनां प्रशस्तधर्माग्र्यफलाभिकाङ्क्षिणाम् ।। 10
In the same way, those other followers of righteousness, desiring the highest fruits of noble virtue, in an instant became adorned with proper ornaments, garments, and garlands, O King.
नवेन रूपेण विशांपतिर्युतस्त्वथर्वरूपेण बभौ प्रतापवान्। निबद्धवैडूर्यसितान्सकाञ्चनान्नृपस्तथाऽक्षान्परिवेष्ट्य वाससः ।। 11
Then the lord of the people, endowed with a new form, shone with the appearance of a Brahmin, his garments encircled with bands of sapphire and gold, his power manifest.
ततो विराटं प्रथमं युधिष्ठिरो ददर्श दूरात्सुसमृद्धतेजसम्। अनन्ततेजोज्वलितं हुताशनं दुरासदं तीक्ष्णविषं यथोरगम् ।। 12
Thereafter Yudhishthira beheld Virata from afar, radiant with great splendor, blazing with endless energy like fire, formidable as a serpent with sharp venom.
सभासदं प्राञ्जलिभिर्जनैर्वृतं विचित्रनानाविधशस्त्रपाणिभिः । उपायनौघैः प्रविशद्भिराचितं द्विजैश्च शिक्षाक्षरमन्त्रधारिभिः ।। 13
He was surrounded by attendants with joined palms, by men bearing many kinds of splendid weapons, by Brahmins entering with heaps of gifts, and by those learned in sacred texts and mantras.
गजैरुदीर्मं तुरगैश्च सङ्कुलं मृगद्विपैः कुब्जगणैः समावृतम् । सितोच्छ्रितोष्णीषनिरुद्धमूर्धजं विचित्रवैडूर्यविकारकुण्डलम् । विराटमायाच्च युधिष्ठिरस्तदा बृहस्पतिः शक्रमिव त्रिविष्टपे ।। 14
The hall was crowded with elephants, horses, wild beasts, and dwarfs, filled with people, heads bound with white turbans, adorned with varied sapphire earrings; and Yudhishthira entered Virata’s presence like Brihaspati approaching Indra in heaven.
तमाव्रजन्तं प्रसमीक्ष्य पाण्डवं विराटराजो मुदितेन चक्षुषा । पप्रच्छ चैनं स नराधिपो मुहुर्द्विजाश्च ये चास्य सभासदस्तदा ।। 15
Seeing the Pandava approaching, King Virata, with delighted eyes, questioned him repeatedly, as did the Brahmins and all those present in the assembly.
को वा विजानाति पुराऽस्य दर्शनं युवा सभां योऽयमुपैति मामिकाम्। रूपेण सारेण विराजयन्महीं श्रिया ह्ययं वैश्रवणो द्विजो यथा ।। 16
Who knows where this youth has been seen before, who now enters my assembly, illuminating the earth with his beauty and excellence, like the god of wealth among Brahmins?
मृगेन्द्रराड्वारणयूथपोपमः प्रभात्ययं काञ्चनपर्वतो यथा। विराजते पावकसूर्यसन्निभं सचन्द्रनक्षत्र इवांशुमान्ग्रहः ।। 17
He shines like a lion among kings, like a golden mountain, radiant as fire or the sun, like a planet with the moon and stars.
न दृश्यतेऽस्यानुचरो न कुञ्जरो न चोष्णरश्म्यावरणं समुच्छ्रितम् । न कुण्डलं नाङ्गदमस्य न स्रजो विचित्रिताङ्गश्च रथश्रतुर्युजः ।। 38
He has no attendant, no elephant, nor a high sunshade; he wears neither earrings nor armlets nor garlands, yet his limbs are splendid, like a charioteer yoked to horses.
क्षात्रं च रूपं हि बिभर्त्ययं भृशं गजेन्द्रशार्दूलमहर्षभोपमः । अभ्यागतोऽस्माननलंकृतोपि सन् विरोचते भानुरिवाचिरोदितः ।। 19
He bears the appearance of a true Kshatriya, resembling a lord of elephants, a tiger, or a great bull; though he comes to us unadorned, he shines like the newly risen sun.
विभात्ययं क्षत्रिय एव सर्वथा विराट इत्येवमुवाच तं प्रति। ससागरान्तामयमद्य मेदिनीं प्रशासितुं चार्हति वासवोपमः ।। 20
In every way he appears to be a Kshatriya, said Virata regarding him; today he is worthy to rule this earth bounded by the seas, like Indra himself.
नाक्षत्रियो नूनमयं भविष्यति मूर्धाभिषिक्तः प्रतिभाति मां प्रति । तुल्यं हि रूपं प्रतिदृश्यतेऽस्य गजस्य सिंहस्य तथर्षभस्य ।। 21
Surely this is no non-Kshatriya, for he seems to me as one anointed on the head; his form matches that of an elephant, a lion, or a bull.
यमेष कामं परिमार्गते द्विजः स चास्य सर्वः क्रियतामसंशयम् । प्रियं च मे दर्शनमीदृशे जने द्विजेषु मुख्येषु तथाऽतिथिष्वपि ।। 22
Whatever this Brahmin desires, let it all be done for him without doubt; for me, the sight of such a person is dear, whether among foremost Brahmins or honored guests.
धनेषु रत्नेष्वथ गोषु वेश्मसु प्रकामतो मे विचरत्ववारितः ।। 23
Let him freely move among my wealth, jewels, cows, and houses, unhindered, as he wishes.
एवं ब्रुवाणस्तमनन्ततेजसं विराजमानं सहसोत्थितो नृपः। अन्येन रूपेण समीपमागतं त्रिदण्डकुण्ड्यङ्कुशशिक्यपाणिनम् ।। 24
Thus speaking, the king at once rose up before that radiant one, who had come near in another form, bearing a triple staff, water-pot, goad, and bag in hand.
समुत्थिता सा हि सभा सपार्थिवा सविप्रराजन्यविशा सशूद्रका । सभागत प्रेक्ष्य तपन्तमर्चिषां विनिःसृतं राहुमुखाद्यथा रविम् ।। 25
Then the entire assembly—kings, Brahmins, nobles, and commoners—rose up, beholding him blazing like the sun emerging from Rahu’s mouth.
स तेन पूर्वं जयतां भवानिह द्विजातिनोक्तोऽभिमुखः कृताञ्जलिः । जयं जयार्हेण समेत्य वर्धितो विराटराजो ह्यभिवादयच्च तम् ।। 26
He, the foremost of conquerors, was first addressed here by the twice-born; approaching with joined palms, King Virata, worthy of victory, greeted him and offered his respects.
तमब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिरेष पार्थिवो विराटराजो मधुराक्षरं वचः। प्राप्तः कुतस्त्वं भगवन्किमिच्छसि क्व यास्यसे किं करवाणि ते द्विज ।। 27
To him, the king Virata, with joined palms, spoke sweet words: 'From where have you come, venerable one? What do you desire? Where will you go? What shall I do for you, O twice-born?'
श्रुतं च शीलं च कुलं च शंस मे गोत्रं तथा नाम च देशमेव ते। सत्यप्रतिज्ञा हि भवन्ति साधवो विशेषतः प्रव्रजिता द्विजातयः ।। 28
Tell me of your learning, conduct, lineage, gotra, name, and country; for the virtuous, especially wandering twice-borns, are known for their truthfulness.
यथाऽनुरूपं प्रचरामि ते त्वहं न चावमन्ता न तवाभिभाषितम् । अपूजिता ह्यग्निसमा द्विजातयः कुलं दहेयुः सविषा इवोरगाः ।। 29
I will act towards you as is proper; I will not disregard you, nor your words. For unhonored twice-borns, equal to fire, may burn a family like venomous serpents.
सर्वां च भूमिं तव दातुमुत्सहे सदण्डकोशां विसृजामि ते पुरम् । कस्यासि राज्ञो विषयादिहागतः किं कर्म चात्राचरसि द्विजोत्तम ।। 30
I am able to give you the whole land, with treasury and army; I will relinquish my city to you. From which king's domain have you come here? What task do you perform here, best of twice-borns?
एवं ब्रुवाणं तमुवाच पार्थिवं युधिष्ठिरो धर्ममवेक्ष्य चासकृत् । सत्यं वचः को न्विह वक्तुमुत्सहेद्यथाप्रतिज्ञं तु शृणुष्व पार्थिव ।। 31
To the king who spoke thus, Yudhishthira replied, mindful of righteousness: 'Who here could speak words truly as promised? But listen, O king, to my truthful declaration.'
श्रुतं च शीलं च कुलं च कर्म च शृणुष्व मे जन्म च देशमेव च । गुरूपदेशान्नियमाच्च मे व्रतं कुलक्रमार्थं पितृभिर्नियोजितम् ।। 32
Hear from me my learning, conduct, lineage, occupation, birth, and country; my vow is from the instruction of my teachers and discipline, established by my ancestors for the sake of family tradition.
द्विजो व्रतेनास्मि न च स्वतः प्रभो संमुण्डितः प्रव्रजितस्त्रिदण्डभृत् । इदं शरीरं मम पश्य मानुषं समावृतं पञ्चभिरेव धातुभिः ।। 33
I am a twice-born, observing a vow, not by my own will, O lord, shaven-headed, a wandering ascetic bearing the triple staff. Behold this human body of mine, composed of the five elements.